Ray JadeDH115 Vampire T55 (pic 38)
Tack, Papa Lima.
All I found out from Googling is below. Dad is pretty sure this was Hurn; he didn’t go to Christchurch much.
DH115 Vampire T55 (pic 38)
No caption, contact print. Probably Hurn, spring or early summer 1952.
A good summary of all NZ T55 including NZ5701 is at http://www.adf-serials.com/nz-serials/nz5701.shtml:
“NZ5701 T.55 c/n 15009. Shipped to New Zealand on Zealandic. BOC 11 July 1952. Delivered to No. 14 Squadron, Ohakea 28 August 1952. To No.75 Squadron 19 September 1952. To store at Woodbourne. Sold to Dwen Distribution Co. Auckland by GSB tender number 8241 dated 09 January 1963. Placed on display in Blenheim childrens’ playground by 1965. Wings and tailbooms currently in storage with RNZAF Museum at Wigram.” Said to up to date as at January 2004.
Picture below, apparently in NZ service is borrowed from http://www.skyhawkphotos.co.nz/Military/New_Zealand/index4.shtmlv. There is a mention of NZ5701, and some excellent photos of other, surviving Vampres in NZ at: http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/vampire.html.
Car – really no idea. Aircraft in the background – your guess is better than mine.
Ray JadeSo….
This boat that’s being left to rot has more connection with aviation than the bizare torpeado boat and submarine wreckage on full, covered display at Duxford?
Ray JadeVampire NZ5701
Rather than me go on…
What, when, where and why?
What car is that?
What are the aircraft background left; what is in the hangar?
I know some of the answers but not many… 🙂
Ray JadeHP Hermes IV (36 & 37)
No caption. Contact prints. Probably Hurn and possible early 1952.
To blurred to make out the aircraft’s identity, but it is in the livery of Airworks Ltd. This company purchased four aircraft from BOAC in 1952 (http://airlines.afriqonline.com/airlines/346.htm) although them seem to have operated six at various times:
G-AKFP crashed 1957 http://aviation-safety.net/database/1957/570901-0.htm
G-ALDA photo listed at http://www.transportphotos.com/ac_lists/mfgs/mfg_british/lists/handleyp.doc
G-ALDB crashed 1952 http://aviation-safety.net/database/1952/520723-0.htm
G-ALDC photo listed at http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/alaa.htm
G-ALDF crash 1952 http://aviation-safety.net/database/1952/520821-0.htm
G-ALDG photo listed at http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/alaa.htm; remains now at Duxford.
Ray JadeTry “Bush” and I Feel Lucky. Move your cursor in the window.
Ray JadeAvro Lincoln RF533 (35)
No caption. Possibly Farnborough September 1952. Well framed photo this.
No much info on this one. It is listed as a Lincoln B2, at the RAE, Farnborough in 1959 (http://dutch5.digitalus.nl/~scramble.nl/mil/show/showreports/farnbo59.htm). One picture is listed in the AJ Jackson collection (http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/raf5.htm).
The sister to this aircraft, RF531, was shot down by Soviet fighters on 12th March 1953 in the Berlin air corridor with the loss of seven crew.
Ray JadeAnsons VM412 And VS560; RAF ‘Viking’ (33,34 and 31)
Captions as above. Cadet camp, Cranwell, Summer 1951.
Only reference to either aircraft is at http://pascal.brugier.free.fr/registre/txt/g-mil_va.txt which has them as Avro 652A Anson T20’s.
VM412 was used for cadet joy rides.
Identity of the two ‘cadets’ not known.
Viking (Valetta?) is at Hurn probably Spring 1952
Ray JadeThanks Ant.
I’m sure I’ve no real idea of the amount of work to restore a big machine; I was a bit concerned it was a back burner project. Imperial War Museum / civil airliner…
Shame she’ll be Earth bound, but perhaps she’s safer that way. I never knowingly saw one fly – the nearest I can get are some clips from the British Pathe archive. You can get previews free (but you have to register and ‘buy’ them for £0) but quality downloads are £25+VAT each!. This link http://www.britishpathe.com/product_display.php?searchfilm=bea+elizabethan.
Ignore the first and third as they are rough cuts of the last one. The second one is worth a laugh (Ambassador pilot flies to work (Denham to Heathrow) in a 20 year old vintage Moth)
The fourth seems to say its from 1961; read 1951. Colour film of Heathrow landings including Ambassador, Connie, Stratocruiser and Comet 1 (overshot? and then landing)
Edit – easier via ITN Archive search – try http://www.britishpathe.com/images//preview/00000000/00086000/00086327.WMV (media file)
Ray Jade😡 Duxford’s full of aircraft being restored to / kept in flying condtion. I’ve no idea who owns the Ambassador or why she’s in bits after 18 years there. That’s why I asked.
Ray JadeYork G-AHFH “Star Glitter” (pic 29, 30 & 32)
Captions “York HFH “Star Glitter”” Pic 29 also “Viscount MAV”
According to the UK Civil register, this was an Avro 685 York C1 c/n 1311. According to http://www.ukserials.fsnet.co.uk/ww.pdf, it was RAF WW502; http://airlines.afriqonline.com/airlines/803.htm has a photo of the aircraft as G-AHFH at Heathrow in 1946 in BSAA livery.
It joined Middle East Airlines in 1957 with the registration OD-ADA, according to http://wassch71.tripod.com/cedarjet150.html), which also suggests that the sequence of codes carried was G-AHFH, WW502(G), G-AHFH and then OD-ADA.
The AJ Jackson collection (http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/a10.htm) lists photos for the aircraft with BSAA and as OD-ADA
According to http://aviation-safety.net/database/1962/620911-2.htm, the aircraft was written-off after a landing accident at Azaiba II airfield, Oman on 11th September 1962. This source also notes the year of construction as 1946.
From the presence of G-AMAV, these photos are probably taken on or after 22nd April 1952 (first seen date; no date for G-AHFH indicating that it has been seen prior to 1952). My father recalls ‘sneaking’ closer to get a better look, taking the photos as he went. The York is still in BSAA livery, although the registration is much smaller than the 1946 photo mentioned above.
Viscount 700 G-AMAV is the aircraft pictured in http://forum.airforces.info/showpost.php?p=335949&postcount=19.
Not the same York but the artistic, or Merlin-lovers, may like http://www.bamuseum.com/images/large/40-50/40-50s12.jpg.
Ray JadeI
Also on the Classic jet theme I did set up a forum but its gone a bit dead so I’m hoping it picks back up.
Didn’t know about this forum but then I’m pretty recent here 🙂
Ray JadeActually I think it’s probable both arguments are correct. It seems the 109T was DESIGNED as a naval aircraft with folding wings but BUILT as a de-navalised landplane. Here’s an excerpt from the link I posted above, which is in fact an extract from “Warplanes of the Third Reich, William Green, Doubleday, 1970”…
I was also prompted to dig out the old bible last night – but gnome has a time zone advantage!
It is clear, if Green is correct, that the T was intended to have manually folding outer wings. It struck me that he didn’t state (in the paragraphs after gnome’s quotation) which naval features the T-0 and T-2 actually had except for additional spoilers on the wings which were present on the operational T-2’s. He also says that, by implication, the aircraft intended to be T-1’s were modifed to T-2’s on the production line and that, therefore, no T-1’s were ever actually produced.
My suggestion, largely unsupported by evidence, is that T-0 didn’t ever have folding wings, only strengthening, hooks spoilers etc. The T-1 didn’t exist and the T-2 had its potential folding wings locked / bolted.
Are they any photos other than the two of a “T-0” in Green’s book?
Ray JadeSpits etc still get the afterglow from wartime moral boosting / propaganda so they are a bit glam. By contrast, the WW2 jets were largely secret. By the time they weren’t they were busy crashing all over the place (a de Havilland speciality {ducks} ). Then they became everyday work machines.
Steam and diesel to the rail-bound.
I guess that a fairly basic airframe, a few rods and pulleys and a piston engine is a lot more managable than, say, a Vulcan. How many jets in club aviation?
Does seem a real shame that there’s so little interest here in more recent historic aircraft. It wasn’t long ago that twin-booms, Victors, buccaneers and the rest were just not interesting (too old and too young). Now they’ve almost gone.
Which ones will be next? Anyone interested in preserving old Hawks, Jags, Tornados, Tristars? Too old to interest the modern fraternity but not real classics… “Ah, the Lightning now that was a classic”. Shame most have been turned into coke cans.
😡
Ray JadeI’m no expert, but parked outside isn’t safe but a long slow fade away. Look at Duxford’s Victor and others.
Bit sad about this 🙁
Ray JadeHermes 4 G-ALDV, Hermes 4 G-ALDW, Constellation VH-EAF, Stratocruiser G-ALSA & G-AKGH
Caption as above. At Hurn, Winter 1952. Most likely dates are 8th or 27th of December when there were apparently a large number of diversions from London due to fog (used to happen a lot in my time in the early 1970’s).
Hermes 4 G-ALDV
According to the UK civil register, this was HP81 Hermes 4A c/n 22.
Three photos in BOAC service are listed at http://www.transportphotos.com/Air/PN54/civil.htm. It evidently passed to Skyways Ltd in the mid-1950’s.
On 1st April 1952 whilst on a test flight from Stanstead, its elevator controls apparently jammed causing it to crash killing all three crew (http://aviation-safety.net/database/1958/580401-1.htm).
Hermes 4 G-ALDW
According to the UK civil register, this was HP81 Hermes 4A c/n 23.
A photo in BOAC service is listed at http://www.transportphotos.com/Air/PN54/civil.htm and another in the AJ Jackson Collection (http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/alaa.htm). It evidently passed to Skyways Ltd in the mid-1950’s.
On 6th March 1956, it was destroyed by an explosion in its forward freight compartment whilst on the ground at Nicosia, Cyprus – sabotage but no injuries (http://aviation-safety.net/database/1956/560304-0.htm).
Constellation VH-EAF
Really good detail on this aircraft (and many other Australian airliners) at http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/constellation/vh-eaf1.htm.
C/n 2504 Lockheed L-749 Constellation. Operated by Qantas as “Horace Brinsmead” from 1951 to 1954 including a spell as the Royal aircraft. Pictured in 1952 livery.
Previous identities NC86521 (NTU) and VT-CQS (Air India “Mogul Princess”) and subsequent identities G-ANTF (BOAC) and N9816F (various including Capital Airlines).
Survived a wheels-up landing in Aden in March 1966, but was largely destroyed by fire at Baginton 1st February 1970 and subsequently scrapped.
Stratocruiser G-ALSA
According to the UK civil register a Boeing 377-10-28, c/n 15943. This was the first BOAC Stratocruiser, named “Cathay” which commenced service on December 6th 1949. http://www.aahs-online.org/BackIssues/V48N1.htm has more detail and a BOAC picture of the aircraft.
There are two photos in BOAC service listed in the AJ Jackson Collection (http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/b13.htm) and one at http://www.transportphotos.com/Air/PN53/civil.htm.
On 25th December 1954, the aircraft was destroyed in an excessively hard ‘landing’ short of the runway, killing 28 of the 36 people on board (http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1954/1954-43.htm). A more personal view on the accident is at http://www.ingraham.ca/bob/prestwickcause.html .
Stratocruiser G-AKGH.
According to the UK civil register a Boeing 377-10-28, c/n 15974.
There are two photos in BOAC service listed in the AJ Jackson Collection (http://www.ajjcollection.co.uk/b13.htm) and one at http://www.transportphotos.com/Air/PN53/civil.htm.
The aircraft subsequently became N137A with Transocean (good picture at http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N137A&distinct_entry=true) and then N402Q. In August 1967, it was in a ground collision with Stratocruiser N90942 of Aero Spacelines in Mohave, CA and apparently written-off.
The aircraft is lucky enough to feature in a webpage devoted to a collection of Stratocruiser related models at http://www.ovi.ch/b377/models .
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